GDT: Devils @ Buffalo - 1:00 PM - MSG

[youryeah]

holy shit keefe is pissed

 

[Bleedred]

Fitzgerald constantly drags his feet about making in-season moves, it's maddening. Other than the Meier trade, he does absolute squat in terms of acquiring players during the season to improve the team.

He sat on the goalie situation until the season was burned last year and he's sitting on the forward depth situation this season.

Normally I don't really get on the GM for not making significant in-season moves, as they don't really happen except leading up to the deadline. Everybody cries for trades, but we just don't see them happen often.

But we've seen a lot more movement than normal this season pre-deadline.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

Great, the boys are playing like crap and I have suite seats for Thursday, at least there will be free booze

 

[Bleedred]

holy shit keefe is pissed

He better be.

He said the last two periods of the Anaheim game were probably our worst two periods of the season.

The first two periods of this game made anything from that game look not bad.

 

[Satans Hockey]

Sheldon just said "Allen tightened up a little bit" so between what the score was and hearing that he pulled him.

 

[Devs3cups]

If you think our problems are simply solved by getting Nico and Markstrom back you’re delusional.

They’re a mess, they’re playing a completely different game from back in December.

I mean it certainly couldn't hurt. Everyone healthy with their 1C, 3C and #1 goalie back? That should definitely help.

 

[devilsblood]

Well if we're really not able to absorb an injury to 34 year old, 22 game pointless Erik Haula and if Nico being out makes us that bad then maybe the criticism about the team lacking forward depth is entirely legit?

But those those are the guys relied upon to play defensive minutes at center.

I also think Haula was battling injury prior to missing games so the pointless streak doesn't mean a whole lot to me.

 

[Andre Palot]

holy shit keefe is pissed

When's he gonna do something about it

 

[Devs3cups]

But those those are the guys relied upon to play defensive minutes at center.

I also think Haula was battling injury prior to missing games so the pointless streak doesn't mean a whole lot to me.

Spot on. Missing their 1C, #1 goalie and their 3C is a huge blow. They have 3 wins in their last 5. Keep a good pace until the 4 nations break and we should be good.

 

[Andre Palot]

Start benching people. Send a message.

 

[Bleedred]

But those those are the guys relied upon to play defensive minutes at center.

I also think Haula was battling injury prior to missing games so the pointless streak doesn't mean a whole lot to me.

Fair to credit Haula for being an upgrade defensively and on faceoffs. I just don't think he'd be much help to a team that on a lot of nights has been struggling to score.

 

[devilsblood]

Sheldon just said "Allen tightened up a little bit" so between what the score was and hearing that he pulled him.

Ruh roh.

Start benching people. Send a message.

Who are they benching? And who are they replacing these players with?

 

[Bleedred]

You know Noesen is gone next game.

So there's another guy out.

Has he been suspended before? I've never heard about it, but I can't swear to it either.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

If you think our problems are simply solved by getting Nico and Markstrom back you’re delusional.

They’re a mess, they’re playing a completely different game from back in December.

I believe getting one of the best centers in the league and one of the top goalies this season back will make the team much better, yes.

The biggest measurable falloff has been with Luke. He went from literally the best results in the NHL to not very good. I expect that to stabilize as he battles through a long season. The rest will help in a few weeks.

Things look much worse when you lose almost every 1 goal game you’re in and most OTs/shootouts. Nothing is stopping you from believing that will continue, but I’m not sure why that will happen. Doesn’t even happen with most horrible teams.

 

[Bleedred]

Sheldon just said "Allen tightened up a little bit" so between what the score was and hearing that he pulled him.

I'm usually a huge critic of Allen and have said I wouldn't mind going to Daws if he shits himself, but I don't really think he did that today. I'm not so sure I'm comfortable going in there with Daws on Tuesday.

Between the Devils constantly playing down to these trash teams (along with Noesen probably being added to the missing list) and the missing list, I could totally see the Pens turning back the clock to 2016 with Daws in there on Tuesday.

I don't know, it's a gamble.

 

[Call Me Al]

just a reminder that we had a healthy nico and markstrom and playable haula for most of january and they still sucked really really bad.

yeah they played great in december, but this awful stretch is just as long as any good stretch the team had. i’m not convinced getting healthy will be the boost this team needs, they might just be mediocre and end up having to fight for a wild card spot. there’s 30 games left, if the last month trends hold for all teams they’ll be out of the playoffs by march

 

[JK3]

That’s the most despondent I’ve seen Keefe. Super quick presser, “It’s losing hockey”.

 

[njdevils1982]

@Bleedred you in the mood for some classic 90s toronto punk after that one. i know i am

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

just a reminder that we had a healthy nico and markstrom and playable haula for most of january and they still sucked really really bad.

yeah they played great in december, but this awful stretch is just as long as any good stretch the team had. i’m not convinced getting healthy will be the boost this team needs, they might just be mediocre and end up having to fight for a wild card spot. there’s 30 games left, if the last month trends hold for all teams they’ll be out of the playoffs by march

Haula played 2 games in January, so no we did not have a "playable Haula for most of January". He was shit/not playable since Thanksgiving.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Where's the Dano-meter, I think am at an 8 right now

 

[njdevils1982]

You know Noesen is gone next game.

So there's another guy out.

Has he been suspended before? I've never heard about it, but I can't swear to it either.

yes, he has been before

USA's Stefan Noesen barred from world junior championships

Plymouth Whalers forward has been suspended for 10 games by the Ontario Hockey League

www.usatoday.com

 

[Bleedred]

just a reminder that we had a healthy nico and markstrom and playable haula for most of january and they still sucked really really bad.

yeah they played great in december, but this awful stretch is just as long as any good stretch the team had. i’m not convinced getting healthy will be the boost this team needs, they might just be mediocre and end up having to fight for a wild card spot. there’s 30 games left, if the last month trends hold for all teams they’ll be out of the playoffs by march

This is why I'm not completely sold on the team completely turning it around as soon as they get back.

Obviously Nico and Markstrom will help any team in the league, but things have really been trending downward for some time now. That back to back weekend home disaster against Philly and Ottawa really deflated me.

I don't blame anyone for believing those guys coming back will help a whole lot because they absolutely should. But I also don't know why we should bet on the team definitely turning it around.

If we don't win at least one of these next 3 games before the break we're definitely in danger of Columbus passing us coming out of the gate from the break (I don't think they mathematically can pass us before the break?) and also other teams right on our tail if they stay hot.

 

[JK3]

I believe getting one of the best centers in the league and one of the top goalies this season back will make the team much better, yes.

The biggest measurable falloff has been with Luke. He went from literally the best results in the NHL to not very good. I expect that to stabilize as he battles through a long season. The rest will help in a few weeks.

Things look much worse when you lose almost every 1 goal game you’re in and most OTs/shootouts. Nothing is stopping you from believing that will continue, but I’m not sure why that will happen. Doesn’t even happen with most horrible teams.

Oh for sure Nico is a total beast, he carries the team in his back. Markstrom has been great as well but the team is capable of being much much better.

Our goaltending has been OK but losing one guy, albeit an amazing player, shouldn’t tank the entire team and have them lose their ability to play.

Whatever Keefe implemented the first half should be replicated with or without Nico.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

I'm usually a huge critic of Allen and have said I wouldn't mind going to Daws if he shits himself, but I don't really think he did that today. I'm not so sure I'm comfortable going in there with Daws on Tuesday.

Between the Devils constantly playing down to these trash teams (along with Noesen probably being added to the missing list) and the missing list, I could totally see the Pens turning back the clock to 2016 with Daws in there on Tuesday.

I don't know, it's a gamble.

Daws has played games over bunerous seasons and was the Devils MVP at the Stadium Series game a year ago infron of a 70k plus crowd. I'm pretty sure he can handle plating a game against the Pens.

 

[Bleedred]

Daws has played games over bunerous seasons and was the Devils MVP at the Stadium Series game a year ago infron of a 70k plus crowd. I'm pretty sure he can handle plating a game against the Pens.

He may or he may not, but it's a gamble when we absolutely need a win on Tuesday.